Singapore offices cost the most to outfit, Asia-Pacific survey says

South China Morning PostEN 2 min read 100% complete by Cao LiMarch 4, 2026 at 09:30 AM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

According to a Knight Frank survey, Singapore is the most expensive city in the Asia-Pacific region to outfit an office, averaging US$2,029 per square meter. This is due to high labor costs, contractor shortages, and strict building standards. Singapore also leads in costs for basic, standard, and premium office setups, with premium offices costing US$3,117 per square meter. The survey, which included 23 cities, found Tokyo and Taipei to be the next most expensive. Singapore's appeal as a financial hub, particularly for expanding Chinese businesses, has contributed to falling vacancy rates and rising rents, especially for Grade A office space.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Shenzhen 30% Guangzhou 30% Beijing 40% Shanghai 40% Hong Kong 50% Knight Frank ×260% Taipei 70% Tokyo 80% Singapore ×5100%

Keywords

office fit-out costs 100% singapore 90% asia-pacific 70% commercial real estate 70% office rents 60% business hub 50% vacancy rates 50% construction costs 40%